Walking the final holes of the Open with Tiger Woods was a spiritual or quasi-religious experience. The unconditional love for the American superstar - along with cries of “Thank you Tiger” - radiated more warmth than the anaemic Scottish sun.
And Woods, who we have accompanied on his journey from ruthless winning machine to an emotional favourite, struggled to fight back the tears. Sixteen years after his last Open win and at the age of 46, when a younger, sexier generation has taken over the Majors and the top of the world rankings, he is still the player everyone wants to see. And then say they were there.
He means so much to so many people, a golfing superstar who transcends the sport. When he won his first Open here in 2000 - my first ever Major - he completed a career Grand Slam at the age of 24. Between the ages of Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi and Cristiano, he was the undoubted biggest name in sport. His 2009 sex scandal took his fame to another, unwanted, level.
It should have been sad watching his final round on the Old Course yesterday. Yet the crowd reaction - and his determination to keep trying through the pain until the final shot - felt more like a celebration.
Among his many achievements, his run of making 142 consecutive cuts between 1998 and 2003 is as ridiculous as his comeback 15th Major title at the 2019 Masters.
And even now, after the operations and the car accident, he still grinds to the end even if his opening 78 showed his skills no longer match his will.
A streak of nine consecutive pars today was ended by a double bogey on 16 when his flop shot rolled back into a greenside bunker to murmurs of disappointment. His par at 17 was met with huge applause before his tear-filled walk up the 18th with thousands on both sides of the fairway giving a standing ovation.
He was later asked if considered stopping to pose for photos on the Swilcan Bridge before his final tee shot. “No,” he said. “I was just thinking about a 5-wood or 3-wood.”
Jack Nicklaus birdied the final hole for a 72 on his’ farewell in 2005. The 18-time Major winner had better stats again as Woods missed a five-footer birdie at the last to card a closing 75. ‘I'm a little ticked that I'm not playing on the weekend,” he said in all seriousness. “I fought hard.”
Where he plays next is the question. He has played only three Majors this year and shot 34-over par in his nine rounds. “I have nothing, nothing planned,” he said. “Zero. Maybe something next year. I don't know. But nothing in the near future. I'm not retiring from the game. Hopefully we do more hard work and give myself some more chances next year to play a few more events.”
In his final question in his packed out press conference, Woods was asked if he could return to St Andrews to play for fun.
“I'm sure my son (Charlie) will probably want me to come back here and play,” he smiled. “I was fortunate enough to have gotten an honorary membership to The R&A. That's pretty neat. And because of that I'm able to get a tee time. So that could happen!”
